Letter: Escalating work

Sir: I was heartened by the sight in Paris recently of several modern escalators (including a key one that should have carried passengers to a distant satellite at Charles de Gaulle Airport) being hors de combat, to think that this traditional sight in London Underground stations may not, after all, be due to British workmanship.

But might the fact that so many break down for long periods mean that there is an urgent need for more competition among escalator manufacturers? Which enterprising companies would like to help the economy in this way - and at the same time help several thousand long-suffering travellers?